Clear&rsquo;s future cloudyClear&rsquo;s future cloudy

Clear, the verified identity pass company that could speed travelers past security lines at several major airports, suddenly ceased operations June 23 when attempts to find operating funds failed.

Clear began in 2005 and had about 165,000 registered travelers. Using electronic fingerprint and eye identification, Clear travelers could bypass long security lines and use a special lane with a dedicated X-ray screening machine. The service was especially useful at popular destinations such as Orlando, where Clear travelers often bypassed as many as 300 to 600 people and used their own mostly unoccupied security lane.

Travelers paid up to $160 yearly for the Clear pass, which looks like a credit card and has a photo and electronic coding. There were only 20 airports served by the Clear system at the time the company ceased operations. It was the brainchild of entrepreneur Steve Brill.

Alton K. Marsh

Freelance journalist

Alton K. Marsh is a former senior editor of AOPA Pilot and is now a freelance journalist specializing in aviation topics.